Ai Weiwei Quotes, Art Quotes, People Quotes

China is an old nation with a colourful history. Its booming economy has triggered an appetite and a curiosity around the world for its art and culture, one that continues to grow. I can, however, tell people that it is a show with no actor.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , People Quotes

China spends a lot of resources and effort on gaining soft power over culture. The hope is that it can be the last lifeline for the Party's survival. Obviously, the idea will fail.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Party Quotes , Ideas Quotes

This is a very general understanding of art in China, that being an artist can make you money and turn you into a star.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Stars Quotes

To survive, China had to open up to the West. It could not survive otherwise. This was after many millions have died of hunger in a country that was like North Korea is today. Once we became part of global competition, we had to agree to some rules. It's painful, but we had to. Otherwise there was no way to survive.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Country Quotes , Korea Quotes

New York is a city where you're so alone, you're an individual, you can disappear. You can make something happen. But it's very different to make something happen in the art world.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , New York Quotes

Art is always about overcoming obstacles between the inner condition and the skill for expression.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Expression Quotes

My understanding of Chinese history is limited. So far, I have only scratched its surface; I wish I could find out more.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Understanding Quotes , Chinese Quotes

I think I'm just a traveler. When you walk across a river and there's no bridge, you build one. I'm used to having to deal with Chinese Communist ideology - it's not really an ideology, but a method of control. But China's problems are not just China's problems - they're human problems. Humanity has always worked better when you see it as one.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Humanity Quotes

It [success] is really by mistake.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes

China hasn't only existed for one day. Now, the whole nation has become richer and it's become a problem. The problem is universal. The factor is big. Everybody has to rethink the balance of the world and the whole landscape.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Balance Quotes , One Day Quotes

This so-called fame or being better off doesn't really attract me at all.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Fame Quotes

I think art is a very important weapon to achieve human freedom

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Thinking Quotes

[Museums] all belongs to the cultural department, which is the biggest cultural department in the world.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Museums Quotes , World Quotes

My angst and my insecurity reflect the state's angst and insecurity. The state is scared too.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Insecurity Quotes , Scared Quotes

I never had a sense of home.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes

I'm doing quite a few things now. In one day, I will go to Kassel, Germany, for a documentary project I've been preparing for half a year. I will bring 1,001 Chinese to participate as my artwork there - any Chinese who is a Chinese passport holder and over eighteen years old could apply through my blog. I'm just bringing them to Kassel to see the art show, and pay their room and board.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Years Quotes

My definition of art has always been the same. It is about freedom of expression, a new way of communication. It is never about exhibiting in museums or about hanging it on the wall.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Wall Quotes

I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets of judgment.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Art Quotes , Reality Quotes

If civil society has nobody who protects the law, then what kind of society is that?

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Law Quotes , Kind Quotes

Many people I know - writers, poets - they have all been sentenced not once but sometimes three times after they come out. They serve five or six years, come out another time, and then nine years. Come out again, 12 years. Only because they have a different opinion. They are innocent people, they have beautiful minds, beautiful hearts.

5 years ago

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Tags : Ai Weiwei Quotes , Beautiful Quotes , Heart Quotes